Everyone's opinion of what our world will look like and work like after it is safe to come out of our homes is worthy of consideration. 

In addition to serving our clients in crisis, Waymaker Group has been working hard behind the scenes to expand and fine-tune services we know our communities will need when the COVID-19 chaos settles. 

The December white paper issued by Information Technology and Innovation Foundation & The Brookings Institution has, thankfully, been getting a lot of national attention and represents the next chapter in our country's economic history. 

The term, “winner takes all” is a common if not stale term that’s been used in the technology industry for years. While it may be an ugly reality in tech, it’s a principle that has some significantly detrimental consequences in economic development.

A recent Brookings/ITIF report announced recently that nine out of 10 tech jobs were created from 2005 to 2017 in just five U.S. markets: Boston, Seattle, San Diego, San Francisco and Silicon Valley.

As Waymaker closes up a three-day tour with generous Midwestern hospitality provided by the leaders of the Cortex Innovation Community, it sinks in deeply: innovation leaders in the middle part of the country are made from a special kind of mettle. 

Thomas Friedman caught our attention in 2005 with his now-famous book; The World is Flat. 

The last 90 days have been full: 12,000 miles crisscrossing very distinctive regions in the Middle and Eastern U.S.; three innovation conferences; meetings with two mayors; 

My sister recently sent a package of old school pictures (my bangs were pretty awesome in the 80s if I do say so), cards and mementos—personal belongings from my father who passed away four years ago. 

For the past 18 months, I’ve been giving Steve Case’s book, Rise of the Rest out to future and current clients. Mr. Case is best known as the founder of AOL but in years past has continued to provide his view into the technology industry’s crystal ball.